Bridge pickup for 50s Classic Telecaster

[AtlanticCity83]

Hi,

already a few days I'm looking for a different bridge pickup for my Fender Classic 50s Tele and a few got my attention. The bridge pickup is a bit too ice-picky and "nothing special" to my ears. So I want a pickup with character!

- The Seymour Duncan Broadcaster seems to be a great one with a lot of that "snarl". Great for country and I hope for classic rock as well...! This one seems to be a bit hotter then the...
- Seymour Duncan '54. I've heard that this pickup is a bit more versatile then the Broadcaster (?). Sounds interesting too. At least what I can hear on Youtube.
- Seymour Duncan Antiquities. Some people didn't like 'em, for some others they're the holy grail of Telecaster pickups.
- DiMarzio Twang King, another interesting pickup. I've played the neck pickup in a Chinese Squier CV 50s Tele and was quite impressed. Unfortunately I never did try out the bridge pickup but what I heard on Youtube, it might be a great choice.
Tonerider Hot Classics & Alnico II Blues. Perhaps my thoughts are unfounded but I'm afraid the Alnico II Blues might sound too thick and warm. A bit too mellow. I really want to keep the Twang but maybe the Hot Classics will be too hot? The Toneriders seem to be a great bang for the buck and so I might try out a set or another Tonerider neck pickup.
I play Country, Classic Rock and as well I'm thinking about a 4-way switch to get a fatter sound when playing both single coils wired in series. Maybe that's important to know when choosing the right pickups. Also, what would be the right choice of AlNiCo magnets? II, III, IV, V? It doesn't have to be one of the pickups listed above. I'm pretty sure there'll be much more I didn't even found and sound great...!

I'm looking forward to some interesting and eye-opening answers.

 

[pi]

Twang King is great. The neck pickup is universally loved for good reason, but the bridge pickup is kind of underrated. As a tele pickup, I don't think it's as twangy as the name implies though which might be why it's not as popular, so keep that in mind. If you're after a lot of twang then then ironically Twang King might not be your thing. But if you're going for rock or blues it's great.

The other one I like is Nocaster.

 

[El Tele Lobo]

Cavalier Nashville and Nocaster are both worth a look.

 

[mjcyates]

I have the Twang King Neck and Bridge in my 1977 Tele. I think they both sound great.

 

[fenderchamp]

what sort of amplifier are you using, and how are you twisting the knobs?

 

[AtlanticCity83]

Cavalier Nashville and Nocaster are both worth a look.

And they don't are that expensive as I thought. Ok, I would have to import to Germany but... why not? The Bakersfield seem to be too much on the treble side, I think. The description for the Nashville pickup really describes what I'm looking for.

 

[AtlanticCity83]

what sort of amplifier are you using, and how are you twisting the knobs?

I'm playing an Origin 50 combo and a Yamaha THR 10v2.

 

[Timbresmith1]

Duncan Broadcaster and Antiquity are both quite good, imo. Fralin makes a great Tele bridge pickup, too.

 

[Andy B]

DiMarzio Area Hot T bridge pickup is a great Tele pickup. Personally I use Chopper T pickups which are much more humbucker sounding. I have a Area Hot T in my traditional sounding Tele.

 

[dreamingtele]

Dont forget about these:

Fender Broadcaster set
Fender Nocaster set

they're not "booteek", but they're very very good.. probably two of my favorite telecaster pickup sets..

if you want a little cleaner, look for AV62 or AV64 pickup sets..

 

[adjason]

I sold my vintera 50's but I had a love hate relationship with the pickups too. One issue is that the neck pickup is kind of low output too so if you go with something strong it might get out of balance. I'd go with the Fender 62 reissue. If you want both pickups to be louder then as has been said the nocaster and 64 sets are great

 

[AtlanticCity83]

One issue is that the neck pickup is kind of low output too so if you go with something strong it might get out of balance.

Hm, I think that's true so I better change the neck pickup too, at least when the bridge pickup is hotter!

Anyone tried or compared a Seymour Duncan '54 neck pickup to a stock Classic 50s?

 

[ERik77]

For me, The Seymour Duncan Broadcaster bridge pickup is where it's at.

 

[AtlanticCity83]

Which neck pickup would be a good match?

 

[timbgtr]

Fralin vintage vote here (in avatar).

 

[57joonya]

Dont forget about these:

Fender Broadcaster set
Fender Nocaster set

they're not "booteek", but they're very very good.. probably two of my favorite telecaster pickup sets..

if you want a little cleaner, look for AV62 or AV64 pickup sets..

I put a no-caster set in my ‘63 custom shop .(lake placid blue) as if that matters . (It does to me) . And that’s when I finally fell in love with the bridge pickup . It just has such a great sound , and was not overly bright, as the custom shop set was / very clean and bright , lacking character-
At least for me .When the amp is cranked,I’ve had some pretty magical moments , those rare times where it was an out door gig .thinking about it , that was maybe the second time in my life I changed pickups , I usually stay with stock

 

[Telecaster88]

Depends what you're gong for, but Nocasters are my favorite Tele pickups. No ice pick on the bridge but still bright as a Tele should be. Neck is smooth and round, no wooliness. For reference, I play clean. Good luck!

 

[John_B]

AC83, Ken Carlson is a great Tele player! I really like his teaching style. His SD Broadcaster tone thru his Matchless amp is awesome.

I also replaced my classic 50's bridge. I go back and forth from a standard Fralin to my Bootstrap Palo Duro when I want a very midrange A5. Have you checked out Bare Knuckles from England?

As a GI 45 years ago, I was gigging in a C&W band at Schwabisch Gmund & New Ulm. Had the time of my life!

 

[sjtalon]

Doesn't seem to be any mention of the screws on the pickup in there now ?

 

[Wildcard_35]

I have the Seymour Duncan Broadcaster in the bridge of my homemade telecaster and I really like it. You can go a little ice picky with it, but that's what tone knobs on your guitar and amp are for.